A student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) created a stir when he interrupted a math lecture to deliver a passionate speech about Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. The video of the incident quickly went viral on social media. In the video, the student can be seen standing in the right corner of the screen, asking the professor if he could say something. The professor initially asked to finish his line before allowing the student to speak.
Once given the opportunity, the student read from a prepared statement, expressing his concerns about the ongoing genocide in Gaza and announcing his participation in a city-wide student walkout. Holding a Palestinian flag, he and his fellow protestors chanted “free, free Palestine.”
The video captured the student’s accusation that MIT, Israel, and the United States are perpetuating genocide. However, MIT Professor Retsef Levi, an expert in analytics, provided a different perspective. In a statement, Professor Levi claimed that Jewish and Israeli MIT students were physically prevented from attending class by a group of pro-Hamas and anti-Israel students known as the CAA. He also mentioned instances of harassment towards Jewish staff members and class disruptions in previous weeks. Professor Levi criticized the administration’s lack of response, stating that it made Jewish and Israeli students feel unsafe on campus.
The incident also caught the attention of billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, who criticized MIT for failing to discipline the protesters. Ackman argued that the lack of consequences for violating university rules encouraged protesters to engage in more aggressive and antisemitic actions. He claimed that this created a climate of fear that hindered the educational environment.
The response from MIT and its administration is yet to be seen.
